Technical Abstract:
In North America, introduced invasive weeds are having catastrophic effects on agricultural and natural, wild ecosystems. Many of these weeds have been introduced from Eurasia, and the only economically feasible means for controlling them is through classical biological control. This situation is the same in Europe with invasive weeds introduced from North America. Development of pathogens for classical biological control involves collection of pathogens in the native habitat of the target weed, testing the pathogens in quarantine in the country of prospective release or in fields in the country(ies) of origin, and release in the non-native environment. However, discovery of new pathogens has mostly been the purview of the explorer from the country with the weed problem. A more efficient approach would be for explorers from the country of origin to discover pathogens on native species and send them to the country(ies) where the weed is a problem. Given established collaboration, this would work reciprocally with pathogens being discovered in North America and Eurasia, tested in the native range, and sent to the collaborator(s) for rapid advancement of pathogens towards release. However, there are some basic requirements for this to work. Mutual advantages, requirements and an example are presented.